Car Talk Thank you Jim Cartwright for getting all the important and interesting information out to us.
September 2011
CAR TALK
Corvette News:
There is a nice article in the November issue of Vette Magazine that shows some interesting pictures of the 2012 Corvette, specifically pointing out many of the new features being offered.
They start off talking about the new 7th generation Corvette, which we now know will be offered as a 2014 model and available sometime in 2013.Speculation is that it will be debuted at the National Corvette Museum’s April 2013 C5/C6 Birthday Bash.The first Bash was held in April of 1998 to commemorate the day the C5 was introduced to the public.This 1998 party included Dave Hill and his Corvette team, who happened to bring along a number of new Selective Ride Control Corvettes for the participants to sample.
Well, the Bash proved very successful and crowds continued to grow with each successive year, and introducing new Corvette products became a staple of the event and continues to this day.Some of the cars and options first shown there include the ’99 Fixed Roof Coupe (forerunner of the Z06), Millennium Yellow paint, the ’01 Z06, the ’03 50th Anniversary model, the ’04 Commemorative Edition (LeMans edition?), the ’05 C6, the ’06 Z06 and the ’09 ZR1.This year’s Bash featured the 2012 editions.The big news, which we’ve already talked about here in this group, is the Centennial Edition, which will be available on any Corvette model.We also talked about all Centennial Editions being painted black and I now know why.The color is called Carbon Flash Metallic and it pays homage to Chevrolet’s early racing days.Ordering began on May 2 and production started up on June 20.I haven’t seen one, yet.Have you?
There are a total of 10 paint choices available for the 2012 model.Two are new, including the Carbon Flash Metallic and a Carlisle Blue.The other eight are carry-overs.Here’s a quiz for you:How many can you name?
Torch RedSupersonic Blue
Velocity YellowBlade Silver
Inferno OrangeArctic White
Cyber GrayCrystal Red
{Interesting note:Cyber Gray and Crystal Red are currently facing supply problems due to the disaster in Japan.}
So, with the C7 set to debut in 2014, odds are good that a commemorative-edition 2013 C6 will be introduced at next year’s Birthday Bash.Mark you calendars now for April if you want to witness the final send-off for the C6 Corvette.
2012 will see the death of the sad-sack Aveo.Replacing it is a much classier new model called the Sonic.(To me it looks like a Chevrolet, instead of a Suzuki or Kia.)The Sonic is based on the Opel Corsa (GM-Europe), but is fitted with the same engines as the Chevy Cruze.Quite unlike the Aveo, the Sonic aims to be the enthusiasts’ choice in its segment and early testing has been very positive.And……………….it’s supposed to get around 40 mpg.Sounds like a good move for Chevrolet.
A while back we talked about a new California law that requires auto repair facilities to check tire pressures for every vehicle being repaired at their facility as of Sept. 2010.The California legislature recently passed another bill to clarify the law.It states that pressure gauges used for these purposes must be accurate within 2 psi.The legislation also allows the service provider to refuse to check the pressure if the tire is deemed “unsafe” (i.e. excessive tread wear) or damaged (i.e. cracked, bulged or with ply separation).
Under the law, service providers are required to inflate the tires to the recommended tire pressure rating.The provider must note on the invoice that the tire inflation service was completed and then keep a copy of the service invoice for at least three years.The customer may decline the check if the customer affirms that a check had already been done with the last 30 days, or they will have it checked within the next seven days.The rule applies to all vehicles weighing less than 10,000 lbs.
Technical Stuff:
The owner of a 2000 Corvette in Southern Florida was concerned about the lifter noise he was hearing out of his 53,000-mile baby during the hot summertime.He took it into his Chevy dealer to see if they could fix it.He told them that he always changed his oil on time and used 5W30 motor oil as directed by the owner’s manual.When he got the car back he was thrilled to find that the clattering noise was gone.He went back to the dealer and asked them what they did to fix it.They told him they merely changed the oil and used Mobil 1 10W30 instead of 5W30.
This is not rocket science.It used to be just common sense and common practice to adjust the oil viscosity you used in your car as it aged and as the weather changed.In some cases, the owner’s manual is kind of like the Pirate’s Code.It’s more like “guidelines”, rather than firm rules.Whatever happened to simple logic?
Another Florida Vette owner says that when he was 18 years old, back in 1974, he was changing out an engine for the first time.“Obviously, there are many challenges in such an undertaking.Let’s face it, working on cars can present many challenging situations which can push even the most patient of us to the edge.While I cannot remember exactly what the circumstance was, something got me to the breaking point.
“Now, I’m not normally a volatile person, but I remember grabbing a small sledge hammer and throwing it against a chain link fence to vent my frustration.That might have worked, too, except the hammer ricocheted off the fence, came back, and hit me squarely in the shin.This simply added to my frustration level and discomfort.
“Since that day, I have never thrown a tool in frustration when dealing with a difficult vehicle situation (although I’ve certainly wanted to).I decided it’s better to take a few deep breaths, walk away for a few minutes, think it over and not do anything stupid.”
(I’ve almost reached that level of maturity myself…………..almost.)
But now, keeping your cool doesn’t necessarily guarantee that you’ll avoid unpleasant outcomes.Greg from Colorado tells this story:
Installing a new engine in my Toyota MR2 wasn’t going well.From underneath the car I asked my son, who was helping at the time, if something was hitting something else to keep the engine from dropping into place.He said “No”.In his defense, he isn’t very experienced in this sort of thing, much to my disappointment.I exerted enough force to really get the engine jammed and then looked from above to find that the water pump pulley was installed backwards and was in fact what was causing the problem.Now the only way to get it off was to move the engine and unjam it.So, I did the smart thing; went in the house with my son and lived to fight another day.
The next day I set about trying to get the engine unstuck.It wouldn’t budge until I stuck my right hand down to adjust the motor mount.As soon as I did, without putting any more pressure on the engine, it unjammed and dropped, pinning the tip of my right thumb between the motor bracket and the motor mount.Now, my garage is free-standing and is at least 30 feet from the house; but I yelled for help.No response.I had to reach up with my left hand and crank the hoist attached to the engine to lift it and free my thumb.Emergency room was next.The thumb nail had been torn from the nail bed at the cuticle.The nice doctors removed the nail and gave me seven stitches.When I got home, I immediately went back out to the garage and reversed the water pump pulley and got the engine mount bolts in place before the local anesthetic wore off.
When I went into the house holding my bloodied thumb, I asked my daughter if she hadn’t heard me yelling for help.I’m sad to say that her response was, “Sure, but I thought it was just your usual yelling.”
July - August 2011
CAR TALK - Corvette News: In June we talked about the Chevrolet Motor Division of General Motors having been formed in November of 1911, making the 2012 model year Chevrolet’s 100th.Because of that, Chevrolet is introducing a very special option package available on any 2012 Corvette, referred to as the Centennial Edition Corvette. I’m not sure how many buyers will actually opt for the black-on-black-on-black color scheme associated with the Centennial Edition.So, if you think you might be in the market for a new Vette and black is not your favorite color, I’m happy to say that Chevrolet is sweetening the pot of selectable options for 2012.Here’s some new stuff that’s available to you: •On the performance side, new Michelin Pilot Sport Cup Zero Pressure tires will be offered on the Z06 and ZR1.Developed by the same Michelin engineers who design tires for Corvette racing, they’re said to be essentially street-legal versions of a racing tire.They’re included in the optional Z07 performance package on the Z06 and in a new PDE (I’m sure that must stand for “Pretty Darned Expensive”) performance package to be offered on the ZR1. •To complement the tires, all-new aluminum Cup-style wheels will be encouraged.These rims are both stronger and almost 5 pounds lighter than the 20-spoke wheels offered in 2011. •Performance Traction Management (PTM) will also be offered on the Z06 for the first time in 2012.The system integrates traction control, active handling and selective ride control systems to enhance consistency and overall performance on the track.Factor in the new Michelin tires and the 2012 model is expected to set new benchmarks for Corvette performance.Engineers estimate an 8-percent gain in maximum lateral acceleration-to more than 1.1g – along with improved braking distance. •And the ZR1’s manual transmission will include taller gearing in fifth and sixth gears, providing a 2-mpg improvement in highway fuel economy. •On the inside, all 2012 Corvette models will include new seats with larger bolsters on the seatback and cushion areas. •There’s also a revised steering wheel for 2012, featuring model-specific badges and wrapped spokes.Padded center console and armrests are also standard for all models. •Also coming in 2012 is a new Bose uplevel audio system, which includes 9 speakers (rather than the 7 in the 2011 model) for improved sound quality that’s more precisely tuned to the cabin’s acoustics. •Oh, and now you’ll be able to select the brake caliper color that best suits your own taste; red, yellow, silver or gray. ________________________________________________ Many Corvette owners love their cars, but are not really drawn to the world of auto racing and, therefore, are largely unaware of how important racing is to the current performance levels of the Corvette.And they often do not realize how important racing success is to the world’s interest in the Corvette and the overseas sales of these cars.While we love Corvettes for many reasons, it’s the world class performance that keeps the new models coming down the assembly line. Here’s a brief letter that serves as an example: “My wife, Barbara, recently traveled to Italy on business.During one of many dinners with clients, fast cars became the topic – Ferraris, Lamborghinis and so on.The next day, Barbara’s co-worker mentioned that Barbara has an American sports car.In unison the Italians all replied, ‘Corvette!’Pictures were shared and all were impressed by our sleek, black 2008 Z51 coupe, as well as the fact that my wife regularly drives it.I truly believe that Corvette Racing has a great deal to do with this image in Europe, on top of the genuine greatness of the car.” _________________________________________________ Other Chevrolet News: A couple of months ago I mentioned that Chevrolet was climbing back into the Police Pursuit Vehicle market, to once again challenge Ford and Chrysler for that business.To do this, Chevrolet is using a repackaged Australian Holden Statesman platform with V-8 power and rear-wheel-drive and is calling it, big surprise, the Caprice (for police use only). It seems the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department has been doing some comparison shopping out at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana.They tried out the new Caprice and sized it up against the police versions of the 5.7 liter Dodge Charger, the old Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor and some V-6 AWD stuff. The Caprice scored perfect 10s in all categories on the high-speed handling course, which tested steering, body lean, bounce, brake fad, brake pull, and ABS operation.In the Pursuit course, it killed again; it won the braking from 60 mph at 136 feet, 0 to 60 acceleration at 6.01 seconds, and even posted the best fuel economy with 18.9 mpg. The Ford Taurus-based Police Interceptor FWD prototype also did fairly well and was the Caprice’s closest competitor.“But for many police departments, the incredible economy and familiarity of the traditional V-8 will make Caprice the headlamps you need to learn to recognize.” __________________________________________________ Technical Questions: I ran across this question from the owner of a 2007 Corvette coupe with the Z51 package.“When I purchased my car new, I noticed that the rear end was higher than the front end.I assumed that this was done at Bowling Green to compensate for the possibility of heavy loads placed in the trunk.Is there an inexpensive way to solve this issue so that the car looks level all the way around?”(This is not your most savvy Corvette owner, but then I got to thinking that we probably have some members who have wondered the same thing.) A: Though Corvette engineers certainly took the effects of a heavy load in the back of the car into account when determining ride height, it’s only one variable among many that factored in.In addition to cargo load and other functional considerations, they also took into account the car’s appearance.A lot of people like the “raked” look that a slightly higher rear gives the car.But apparently you don’t, and you can change it by easily lowering the rear. I’m sure some of you have done this.It’s a popular thing to do for those who run their cars on the track or just like the looks of a lower Vette.However, it does make it that much trickier to negotiate driveways and speed bumps. You can lower it by about half an inch by simply rotating the rear spring end bolts.Raise the rear of the car and support it safely.Jack up one side of the leaf spring until the rubber bushing on the spring-adjusting bolt comes off of its resting place on the lower control arm.You’ll notice that there’s about half an inch of space between the rubber bushing and spring.Rotate the adjusting bolt until the cushion is against the spring.Repeat for the other side and you’re finished lowering the rear as much as you can with the adjusting bolts.To lower the rear end further, you can remove the rubber bushings (not recommended) or switch to aftermarket bolts and bushings in place of the stock ones. ____________________________________________________ A few months ago we also talked about how frequently you should change the motor oil in your Corvette.According to a respected Corvette mechanic, the oil-life monitoring system in late model Corvettes uses a rather complex algorithm to calculate the percentage of life left in the engine’s oil.Factors the computer takes into account include miles driven, passage of time, engine rpm and engine temperature.By all accounts, the system works extremely well and you are safe following its instructions, assuming you use the correct specification of oil.As a general rule of thumb, under moderate driving conditions, you should be able to go 12 months or 15,000 miles between oil changes, unless your GM Oil Life System says otherwise. Now, a very recent personal story.Cheryl’s 2008 Cadillac CTS began showing a Check Engine lamp.Even though I tried to convince Cheryl that it was probably no big deal, she was very uncomfortable and couldn’t sleep very well.By the way, the oil had about 6,000 miles on it and the Oil Life System indicated that we still had 41% oil life remaining.(I was planning to change the oil soon, really.)Anyway, reading the diagnostic failure code that triggered the Check Engine lamp indicated that we had a cam timing problem on one bank of the engine.Cheryl pushed the OnStar button for the first time since buying the car and asked the Voice to run a diagnostic on the car.The Voice did so and told her the car had a potentially serious engine or transmission fault and that she should take it to the dealer right away.(I was hoping for a little more detail, but they provided nothing useful.) So, we took the car into our trusted dealer and the first thing the Service Writer did was check the dipstick.I thought that was an odd place to look for a cam problem.He told me the oil looked a bit dirty and maybe a bit low.I responded, somewhat defensively, by saying that I always use Mobil One and that the oil only had about 6K miles on it and that the computer said we still had 41% of the oil’s life remaining.He then dropped the bomb; GM had determined that the computers were being too generous with oil life and that there was a factory recall pending to change the computer setting.For some reason, sneaky design intent or just trial and error, they knew that when the engine oil gets dirty and maybe a bit low, it triggers the cam timing error code and illuminates the Check Engine lamp.So much for believing what the computer tells you. Changing the engine oil and filter and resetting the Oil Life System put out the lamp and all is well with the world. _________________________________________________________ Let’s see if this guy’s story sounds familiar to any of you: I was doing some repairs on my 1970 Camaro which necessitated disconnecting the battery.The car had chromed metal support bars in the engine compartment.One of these bars crossed over the battery.As I disconnected the positive cable it occurred to me that the combination wrench I was using might just contact the metal bar, completing the circuit to ground with disastrous results.Cutting corners, I decided to put my hand in the way to keep the polarities apart.Sure enough, the wrench just barely touched my hand as the terminal loosened.Wow, was I a smart guy!Unfortunately, I had not counted on my gold wedding ring.Yeah, you guessed it.The wrench on the positive terminal hit the ring, the ring was resting on the chrome bar and……….instant arc welder!The sparks startled me so much that I yanked my hand loose from the spot welds (that being ring to support and ring to wrench), but the heat conducted was immediate.After a few seconds under cold water, I got the ring off and end up with second degree burns where my ring had been. Moral of the story: never use your body to protect your car, remove jewelry before working on cars, and always disconnect the negative cable first.Oh, and my wife was not at all happy with the divots of gold missing from my wedding ring (they’re still attached to the chrome support bar). QUIZ: What is a “trafficator”? A:An electronic module required on all post-2003 vehicles (2002 for Europe) that isolates engine and body electrical systems from “entertainment” electrical systems. B:A legal term meaning the violator of any motor vehicle traffic law (except in Australia where it specifically refers to blocking the flow of traffic). C:A mechanical, sometimes illuminated, arm mounted on the side of a vehicle to indicate turns.Original equipment on some cars as late as the early 1950’s.
June 2011
Corvette News: Chevrolet was established in November of 1911 by an early racing pioneer named, oddly enough, Louis Chevrolet and General Motors founder William Durant.To commemorate the event, Chevrolet has announced the 2012 Chevrolet Centennial Edition Corvette. Available on all Corvette models, the Centennial Edition features a sleek black color scheme comprised of a Carbon Flash Metallic exterior, satin-black graphics, unique Centennial Satin Black wheels and red brake calipers.Magnetic Selective Ride Control is included on all Centennial Edition Corvettes. The package also features special badges that signify Chevrolet’s racing history.A graphic logo featuring an image of Louis Chevrolet appears on the B-pillars, the center caps of the wheels and the center of the steering wheel.The seat headrests also carry an embossed Centennial logo.If you’re very astute, you will also notice one other small detail; the historic crossed-flags badge contains a small adaptation, with the number “100” in place of the traditional fleur-de-lis symbol. This Centennial Edition carries code ZLC, will be available starting this summer and I haven’t heard any pricing yet. ___________________________________________________ Thanks in large part to the tremendous popularity of the new Grand Sport model, sales of the Z06 have plummeted.It appears there’s a good chance that the Z06 may disappear entirely in the near future, particularly if Chevrolet begins to offer the LS7 engine as an option on the Grand Sport with a choice of transmissions. ___________________________________________________ General Tire Company’s latest ultra-high-performance tire offering is the GMAX AS03.It reportedly delivers precise response in dry and wet conditions, with excellent snow grip.Among its innovations are two patented consumer-centric technologies.Replacement Tire Monitor is a fancy name that means when the tire wears down to within 2/32” you can clearly read the words “Replace Tire” in the center of the tread.Visual Alignment indicators also visually alert the driver to wheel misalignment.The tire is currently available for 5th generation Corvettes, with tire sizes in 245/45/ZR17 and 275/40/ZR18.More sizes are coming later this year. ____________________________________________________ If you’re really a fan of the push-to-start technology on some the new cars, then you might be excited to learn that Phantom Products has come out with an aftermarket item called “Touch-n-Go” for our older Corvettes.It retrofits 1953 to 2004 Vettes with the industry’s first touch-sensitive button-start system, which is functionally similar to the ignition switch built into the ’05-’11 models.Like a traditional key-operated ignition switch, it features five functions (accessories, off, on, crank and run), but it displays them on a multi-color, interactive LED display built into the button assembly.An available security feature includes two key fobs that prevent the vehicle from being started unless they are within signal range of the system’s control box.www.phantom-products.com _____________________________________________________ If you’re in the mood to travel the country in search of an awesome Corvette event, I have a goody for you.The annual Corvettes at Carlisle will be held on August 26-28.That’s in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, of course.It is one fantastic weekend of Corvette fun. 5000+ Corvettes 1100 Vendors Free Corvette giveaway NCRS Gallery displays Special Guests, shopping and kids activities provided ______________________________________________________ Regulatory Stuff: We’ve talked quit a bit about the increased pricing of traffic citations recently, but here’s a bit of detail that most of us probably are not aware of (except for maybe our law enforcement members).Here’s a breakdown of how traffic fine monies are dispensed:(example is for running a red light) Total fine:$480 State Penalty Assessment$98.00 City Traffic Fund$90.16 State Courthouse Facilities Construction Fund$49.00 State Security Fees$40.00 State DNA ID Fund$39.00 County Emergency Medical Services Fund$39.20 State Conviction Fees$35.00 County Criminal Justice Temp. Const. Fund$24.50 State Criminal Surcharge Fund$20.00 County Courthouse Construction Fund$19.60 County General Fund$ 7.84 State Automation Fund$ 7.68 County Auto Fingerprint ID$ 4.90 County Emergency Med-Air Transportation$ 3.92 State Night Court$ 1.00 State Senator Ted Lieu of Torrance said that he voted for the recent increases to traffic infraction penalties because they increase the motivation for people to follow the law, but admits that bringing in new revenue was a strong motivation on the law maker’s part as well. ______________________________________________________ A new law was just signed by the Governor of Nevada that exempts classic vehicles from emissions inspections if owners pay a one-time $6 fee and submit a certification that their vehicle will not be driven more than 5,000 miles per year.Under previous law, classic rods and vehicles were subject to a 2,500 mile per year limit and had to pass an initial two-speed idle emissions inspection to qualify.Also, each year the owners had to certify that their vehicles had not been driven more than the 2,500 miles in the previous year and the certification had to be verified by a DMV emissions tech.Under the new law, the initial emissions inspection is no longer required. Do we dare wish for a similar law in California? _______________________________________________________ Final Stories: June 2011 One owner writes:“I have a 12,000 mile red-on-red 2004 coupe.I am having a problem with my gas cap, in that it doesn’t seem to stay tight.I bought and installed a new cap this spring, but it still seems like it isn’t as tight as it should be when I go to remove it for fuel.Do you have any thoughts on this?” Answer provided:“If your fuel cap really is too loose and a new cap didn’t solve the problem, then there’s something amiss with the neck.I suspect, however, that you’re a rippling mass of muscular manhood and as such the cap only seems loose to you, whereas to us mere mortals it would likely feel sufficiently tight.”
April 2011
Corvette News:(Chevrolet News) Hey, Racing Fans, there’s a new New Chevy Alliance – Chevrolet is now the official vehicle of the famous Road America race track in Wisconsin.The track and Chevrolet have formed a new marketing partnership, one that will help promote the Corvette with the return of the Corvette bridge spanning turn 6. Significance?From 1963 until 1981, then again in 1992, this bridge carried Corvette signage.Road America is a beautiful 4-mile road course. A rededication ceremony is planned for August 21, 2011, which is the day after the seventh round of the American Le Mans Series.Road America is working with the Registry of Corvette Race Cars to organize the one-day salute.For more information, go to registryofcorvetteracecars.com. ___________________________________________________ Since the reintroduction of the Camaro, there has been talk of a factory-produced super Camaro with gobs of horsepower and other go-fast goodies.The expectation was that this top-end Camaro would once again wear the Z28 name.With the downturn in the nation’s economy, this model was delayed and there was even serious concern if it would reach production at all.Well, give Chevrolet credit; it is on its way. Powered by the 556-horsepower, supercharged, 6.2-liter LSA V-8 that’s used in the Cadillac CTS-V, the new model will start showing up in early 2012.But it won’t have Z28 badges on the fenders; it’s being called the ZL1. If that letter and number combination doesn’t mean anything to you, then you need a bit of a history lesson.ZL1 is one of the most hallowed performance monikers Chevrolet has ever used.In 1969, ZL1 was an engine option; specifically, an aluminum big-block V8 displacing 427 cubic inches.Though officially rated at 430 horsepower, this race-ready engine generated more like 500 horses while weighing 100 pounds less than its cast-iron sibling found in the high-performance Corvettes of the day.Only 71 of these engines were offered to the public, with 69 of those going in Camaros and only 2 ending up in Corvettes. Many of the other high-performance parts that make up this new ZL1 are derivatives of Corvette pieces and, in fact, the Corvette development team was heavily involved in designing the car.The pricing hasn’t been finalized, as far as I’ve heard, but it should be a real performance bargain, coming in somewhat less than the Cadillac CTS-V and high-end Corvettes.It’s expected to be a strong seller, which is good news for Chevrolet, but it’s likely to take a bite out of Corvette sales.In fact, I believe one of our members is already on the waiting list for one of the first one’s out. Questions and Tales: If you ever find yourself needing to get your Corvette somewhere else in the country and you don’t want or have time to drive it there, then you’ll be looking for someone to haul it for you.You need to be very careful in selecting a transport company.Here’s an example of why: “Back in the day, a bunch of us decided to go to a huge car event 150 miles away.Everyone drove, except one.He had an early Vette which had to be trailered.No one volunteered, so he called an ad in the regional newspaper about low-cost transporting.An appointment was made, the guy came by, a deal was confirmed, and that was that.He showed complete identification, including his telephone number.Well, the car was picked up and that was the last anyone ever saw of it.The service was a total scam.All of his identification was phony.The phone number he gave turned out to be for a stolen cell phone.The car was never seen again.Fortunately, it was fully insured.” ________________________________________________________ You can also run into danger when searching for a particular classic car you may decide you just have to find. “A friend of mine placed a “Wanted: ’66 Chevelle” ad in a regional automotive tabloid.Soon he received a response that sounded too good to be true.So, thinking he was going to score big time, he drove his truck and trailer hundreds of miles with cash in hand to the seller’s provided address.Well, it ended up being a rural farmhouse miles down a gravel road.When he knocked on the front door, he was tied up and robbed.The farmhouse was abandoned and totally vacant.He eventually got loose and called the police, who soon caught and convicted the armed robber.None of his money was recovered.The police advised him to take some friends along next time and insist on meeting the seller initially at a public location, such as a bank or police station.” _________________________________________________________ If you have a late model Grand Sport and wish you had more power, you might be like this guy: “I have a 2010 Grand Sport coupe with a six-speed manual transmission.I would like to replace the LS3 V8 with an LS7 engine (the Z06 engine).Other than the actual engine, what parts would I need to change to accommodate the swap?”
ANSWER:While it’s certainly possible to replace your car’s original LS3 engine with an LS7, the logical answer is, “Why?Are you crazy?”Go buy a Z06 and save yourself lots of grief!
And then there are folks like this fellow, who buy high-performance cars and then wonder why their tires don’t last forever: “In December of 2009, I bought a new Z06.Although I don’t think I drive it hard –like I don’t do burnouts—I’m experiencing what I consider to be premature tire wear.I’m lucky to have the rear tires last 7,500 miles and the fronts last just a little longer.On my ’99 coupe, I got 45,000 on the original tires.No doubt that driving year round in the heat of Palm Springs doesn’t help the situation, but I maintain proper tire pressures and the tires appear to be wearing evenly.At this rate, I’m on a first name basis with the guys at the tire shop.Is this tire wear normal?” ANSWER:The tire wear you are experiencing on your Z06 is not that unusual.Some sixth-generation Z06 owners may be getting slightly longer tire life, but not significantly so.Make sure your wheel alignment is right on; some alignment shops are better than others. If the issue is a matter of expense, there are a number of non-run-flat tire alternatives that are significantly cheaper than the stock tires.They may not last any longer, but your replacement cost will go down.And hey, you’re playing with 505 horsepower.
CAR TALK – Nov 2010
Corvette News:
It looks like Chevrolet has finally solidified the design of the new C7 version of the Vette, but they’re being very tight-lipped about the details.It will apparently be introduced in 2012 as a 2013 model and it will still be powered by a small block V8 located in the front end of the car.Beyond that, there is only speculation.
Customers taking delivery of a new Corvette ZR1 now have a second choice when it comes to attending their complimentary two-day driving school.In addition to the Bondurant School of High Performance Driving in Arizona, they can learn to harness their 638-horsepower machine at the RonFellowsPerformanceDrivingSchool at Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch in Nevada.This change comes on the heels of the Ron Fellows school being selected as Chevrolet’s OfficialHighPerformanceDrivingSchool.
This agreement provides Chevrolet access to SpringMountain’s multi-configuration road course and racing facilities for vehicle testing, promotional activities and the filming of advertisements, in addition to driver-training programs with the Ron Fellows school.
The SpringMountain car fleet includes 26 Corvettes – 14 Grand Sport coupes, six Z06’s and six ZR1’s --- and well as four SS Camaros.
The new Chevy Volt, the hybrid that only uses its gasoline engine if you drive more than 40 miles and run down the batteries, has now been tested by the magazines and the results are glowing praise.Motor Trend said they tortured the car in every way they could think of to find the flaws, and they found absolutely none.They claim that it is far superior to any other hybrid ever produced.In fact, they say that it is actually over-engineered and will beat all of Chevrolet’s promises.Which probably accounts for the high price tag of slightly over $40K.
But, even at that price, Chevy’s apparently losing money on every one they sell.But, they hope to make it up later by utilizing the new powerplant in other vehicles.
Motor Trend compared the Volt side-by-side with the new Prius hybrid and said the Prius came out a very distant second.
Regulatory:
Governor Schwarzenegger has signed into law a new bill to revamp California’s smog-check program.No earlier than January 1, 2013, smog-check stations will be required to measure emissions of model year 2000 and newer vehicles using onboard diagnostic testing. Current California smog-testing procedures require loaded mode dynamometer or two-speed idle testing, depending on where the vehicle is registered.The new law also directs that a procedure be developed for testing vehicles that are not able to be tested through an onboard diagnostic computer system.
The visual inspection will remain a component of the smog checks.Included in the bill are provisions for greater oversight of inspection stations, including providing for increased penalty fees for violations of ARB-mandated smog-check procedures.
Interesting Stuff:
Several times during our meetings we have talked about the issue of steering column locks on 5th generation Corvettes and GM’s recalls to try to address problems.I know most or all of us with 5th generation cars have gone in for the recall work at least once.Well, I recently had the dreaded message reappear on my instrument panel, “SERVICE COLUMN LOCK”.So, I started doing some research.
There’s a lot of stories out there that talk about how to deal with the scary issue of the mysterious locking steering column and how it could potentially put you into a deadly situation.I found discussions about how you can tap on a certain section of your dash board to unlock your column.There’s stories about how to install a lock by-pass and how it’s supposed to work.Then other stories about how drivers have had troubles caused by the lock by-pass devices.This thing seems to have taken on a life of its own.
Then I came across a very clear, understandable and comforting presentation by a true Chevrolet expert.I’m going to tell you where you can view this presentation in a minute.But it’s by a mechanic named Paul Koerner.In it he discusses the electrical system of the C5, and then explains how the column lock mechanism works.He has personally worked on several hundred C5 Corvettes with column lock issues, so he knows what he’s talking about.
One vital point he makes very clearly is that you do not need to worry about your steering column locking up on you while you’re driving down the freeway.The way the lock is made, it CAN NOT lock while you’re driving.He says that every case has been investigated where someone claimed the column locked on them while driving and not a single case has been found where the column lock mechanism was involved in the incident.
The bottom line is that in about 90% of the cases where the “SERVICE COLUMN LOCK” message appears or other column lock issues arise, the culprit is a weak battery.Either the battery is run down, even a little, or the wrong battery has been installed in the car.Paul goes into great detail about the electrical requirements of the C5 and specifically of the steering column lock circuitry.He explains that the system requires a battery that has 120 amps of reserve capacity to function correctly.Any time you test it, and you should every year, it must show at least 12.5 volts and at least 500 CCA.If the battery doesn’t provide this much electrical power, then the column lock circuitry cannot perform properly and the dreaded message or some other problem will occur.
So, if you’re like me and only drive your C5 once or twice a month and don’t keep a battery tender hooked to the battery, or if you mistakenly purchase a battery that doesn’t meet the electrical requirements of the original, then you are a prime candidate for this problem.Paul warns against going cheap and buying a bargain battery.He states that if your battery came with a carrying handle, that’s a sure sign that it’s a second rate battery.
In my case, I believe the last battery I purchased is correct, but I just don’t keep it charged up and I intend to remedy that.
Ok, so write this down.VetteTube.com. Click on the C5 (1997-2004) item on the right side of the opening screen.Then click on the video presentation by Paul Koerner.It’s a two-part video, so there’s actually a Part 1 and Part 2 that you’ll need to select.It’s an amateur video of a live seminar at a Corvette club meeting, so the quality is not great.But you can easily make out what he’s saying and see his graphs.
A fellow writes, “I’ve owned five recent Corvettes, two of which were convertibles.The tops of my 2001 and 2002 models suffered from minor leaks.I have a suggestion to cure a significant leak.When latching down the two handles of the convertible top, most people latch the right side first and then the left side.Instead, they should latch the left side first or both sides at the same time.If there’s still a leak, use a small amount of clear aquarium silicone sealant.If that does not work, use a small hammer to modify the area.And if that doesn’t work, use a bigger hammer.If you still have a leak, hey, laugh it off and bring a towel.”
In answer to that, the tech guy replies, “Small water leaks are a fairly common problem with late model Corvette convertibles.I don’t think it will help if you change the order in which you latch the hold downs.Hitting the areas where the water infiltrates with a very large hammer probably won’t help cure leaks, either, but there’s no question that it’ll make you feel better---at least for a little while.Better yet, applying a thin coat of dielectric grease to the convertible top seals can help seal small leaks.Adjusting the convertible top frame can also help.And if the water is coming in where the door windows meet the top, adjusting the windows can also help.”
CAR TALK - October 2010
Corvette News: General Motors reported a net income of $1.3 billion in the second quarter of 2010.GM’s version of our Jan Hayes says, quote “I am pleased with our progress on achieving our business objectives.We have delivered strong product, maintained cost discipline, progressed strategic initiatives such as restructuring Europe and acquiring AmeriCredit (which may explain why GMAC is now called Ally?), and delivered two consecutive quarters of profitability and positive cash flow.” While Corvette sales haven’t yet been up two quarters in a row, they have shown some growth.A significant 19.5% increase was seen in July for a total of 1200 units. The Plant Manager at the Bowling Green Assembly Plant, Bob Parcell, has been reassigned to perform the same duties at the Lordstown Assembly Plant in Ohio.His replacement is Dave Tatman, whose entire 32-year career has been with GM.Now, one may wonder if Mr. Parcell was replaced because he wasn’t doing a good job of building Corvettes.But when you look at what they’re now building at the Lordstown Plant, it looks more like this is a vote of confidence.Lordstown is where the new Cruze is being assembled, and Chevrolet is more or less betting the farm on the Cruze. _________________________________ You may know that the engines for the Z06 and ZR1, as well as the manual-transmission Grand Sport coupes, are hand-assembled in a special facility called GM’s Performance Build Center.At least for now, only Corvette engines are built in this facility and only those special engines.This began in 2006 with the LS7 engine for the Z06.They employ 16 engine builders, each engine takes approximately 4 hours to assemble and they produce approximately 125 engines per week. It differs from a normal assembly line in that each engine is built by a single individual, and he signs off on every LS7, LS3 and LS9 that he builds. *The LS3 in the Grand Sports with the manual transmissions use a dry sump arrangement like the LS7 and LS9, which kind of explains why they’re built here. But here’s an even more interesting fact.Starting with the 2011 model year, if you order one of these new cars, you can select option code PBC, which allows you to travel to Wixom, Michigan, and put your own engine together.You do this, of course, under the watchful eye and supervision of one the PBC builders, but you indeed do get to build the very engine that goes into your new Corvette.(Naturally you get no warranty if you choose this option…………………………..just kidding.)This option adds $5,800 to the sticker price of the car and you are responsible for travel costs to the Detroit suburb of Wixom.But what a chance of a lifetime. When a customer selects option PBC, a special concierge contacts him or her to make the arrangements.The concierge follows up with details of the scheduled build date, giving the customer time to make the necessary travel plans.Chevrolet picks up the tab for the hotel, meals and transportation to and from the PBC. The engine also includes an additional plaque with the owner/builder’s name, alongside the plaque with the PBC builder’s name.How cool is that? ____________________ I was going to talk about the new Chevy Cruze, because it seems to be such an important new model.But I’m sure you’ve heard or read about it already, or soon will.It looks to be a phenomenal small car with big car features, as well as good looks.If Chevrolet can just market it successfully, which they’ve had trouble doing in the past, it should be a big win for them.And let’s face it; we need GM, and specifically the Chevrolet Motor Division to get well soon to ensure a bright future for the Corvette. But I’m not going to go into the nuts and bolts of the Cruze.I do have one quote I’d like to read however: “The Cruze that gives Honda and Toyota the willies is the Eco model, which delivers 40 mpg on the highway.The technology behind this remarkable fuel efficiency includes a 1.4 liter Ecotec turbo engine, a six-speed manual transmission with special gearing, ultra low rolling-resistance tires mounted on 17-inch forged aluminum wheels and a wind tunnel-tested aerodynamics package.The drag-reducing features include a lowered ride height, a front air dam, a rear spoiler, smooth underfloor panels and a grille shutter that automatically closes at speed.The Eco begs the obvious question – why bother with an expensive hybrid when 40 mpg is available at an affordable price?” REGULATORY NEWS: How many times have you wondered why the government is so concerned about you wearing a seat belt when you’re driving your personal car, but people perched on top of a screaming motorcycle don’t have to wear one?And I’m sure you’ve taken some kind of trip on a bus and out of habit reached for a seat belt, only to realize there aren’t any. Well, the federal Transportation Department has proposed requiring seatbelts for passengers on all buses used for city commuting, intercity travel and vacation tours.“We’re committed to making sure that motor coach travelers reach their destination safely.Seatbelts save lives and putting them in motor coaches just makes sense,” says Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. Now I wonder……….didn’t it make sense 20 or 30 years ago?Did a light bulb just go on? __________________________ The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is under pressure from some ethanol producers to raise the ethanol content in gasoline from 10% (E10) to 15% (E15).The EPA is expected to issue a decision soon on allowing the use of E15 in late-model cars and it could permit the use in other cars at a later date.SEMA opposes the initiative due to concerns that the additional content will harm automobiles of all ages, particularly special-interest collector and historic vehicles. A lack of conclusive information regarding E15’s effect on engines of different model years reinforces the need to defer or deny the increase.In addition to the potential harm of E15 on engine components, the EPA has no procedure in place to ensure that mis-fueling does not occur, nor does it have any plan for ensuring that regular gasoline continues to be available for older vehicles.SEMA has mounted an effort to ask President Obama to stop the EPA from raising the ethanol content in gasoline. QUESTIONS & STORIES: A guy has an ’87 Corvette with 72,000 miles.He said a few months ago he noticed an oily sludge in his radiator’s overflow tank.He removed the radiator cap and found more sludge there.A mechanic told him it was probably because he hadn’t changed his antifreeze for a few years.The mechanic proceeded to flush out the cooling system and replace the antifreeze.All was fine for a while, but then the sludge returned.He said he checked his oil and found no sign of antifreeze on the dipstick and the oil level is staying full.So what’s causing the sludge in the radiator? I’ve actually experience this exact same problem with Cheryl’s 1989 Cadillac STS.The Cadillac dealer told me that I probably had a blown head gasket and that it would cost me about $6,000 for them to fix it, because the job of replacing the gasket is so labor-intensive on Cadillac engines that it is cheaper to just replace the engine.After telling the service manager that I would never set foot in his dealership again, I took on the challenge of replacing the head gaskets myself.It took me probably 10 hours of work and saved me $5,950.(By the way, in case you haven’t noticed, Coast Cadillac is no longer in business.) Unfortunately, replacing the head gaskets did not fix our problem.So I was afraid that maybe we had a cracked head or block, allowing oil to get into the water.But there didn’t appear to be any antifreeze in the oil, so I kept looking for another answer.As it turns out, I found that oil was leaking into the coolant within the radiator itself, since the oil cooler for that car and apparently some Corvette models is built into the side tanks of the radiator. So, about $200 for a nice, high-quality new radiator fixed our problem, and it did as well for the owner of that ’87 Corvette.
CAR TALK
August 2010
Corvette News:
General Motors announced that CEO Ed Whitacre will step down from his position as leader of the company on Sept. 1.
Whitacre, who is 68, will be replaced by GM board member Dan Akerson.Akerson, who is 61, will be GM’s fourth CEO in 18 months when he takes over.
Ed Whitacre was quoted as saying, “I believe we’ve accomplished what we set out to do.Akerson has been involved in GM’s transition every step of the way and he’s absolutely the right choice to take over.”
Akerson has served on GM’s board since July of 2009.Like Whitacre, he has a background in telecommunications.He worked in the top executive positions at MCI in the 80’s and 90’s.He also served as chairman and CEO of XO Communications Inc., where he oversaw a major restructuring, and CEO of Nextel Communications, where he shifted the company from a regional walkie-talkie maker to a digital wireless provider.
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You probably remember that in mid-2008 Hertz Rent-a-Car started offering special Corvette models for rent.Hertz had Chevrolet build 500 coupes with a special ZHZ package unique to these Hertz rentals.They were all Velocity Yellow with standard LS3 engines.The special package included an automatic transmission, the Dual Mode Exhaust system, Magnetic Selective Ride Control shocks, a black center stripe, chrome 7-spoke forged wheels, a front grille screen, side cove screen inserts, a Corvette-logoed under-hood blanket, body-colored door handles and ZHZ emblems on the fenders, center console and floormats.
The ZHZ rentals were distributed to roughly 20 airport locations across the country.The program proved so popular that 375 convertibles were added to the fleet in 2009.
CAR TALK
July 2010
Corvette News:
Yet another new version of the Corvette is being introduced in 2011, the Z06 Carbon Limited Edition.
“For track use, the Z06 Carbon is the best balanced Corvette yet”, says Corvette’s Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter.“It combines the light weight and naturally-aspirated Z06 engine with the road-holding and braking of the ZR1.”
This limited edition Z06 will boast Brembo carbon ceramic brakes, first introduced on the ZR1.Black 20-spoke 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels add to the sinister look.Magnetic Selective Ride Control is installed for the first time on a Z06.It also comes with black headlamps and mirrors, carbon fiber raised hood and black carbon fiber rockers and splitter.
Oh, and it also comes with racing numbers that you can install for track events.For more information, check out www.gm.com.
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As you well know, Corvette sales have suffered as a result of the bad economy.Chevrolet says that only 13,934 Vettes were sold in model year 2009, the lowest yearly total since 1961.However, despite the difficult times, Corvette still retained sales leadership in the luxury sports-car segment.In fact, Corvette actually accounted for 28% of the sales in this segment.
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Has Dick Malley tried out the “Launch Control” feature of his 2010 Grand Sport?Here’s a recommendation I came across:
“Once you’ve placed the car in the Competitive Driving Mode, make sure that you absolutely floor the gas pedal and keep it floored; launch control will activate only when the engine has been given full throttle.You’ll know it has done so when the revs drop, even though you have not let up on the gas.At this point, you are free to side-step the clutch and lay down some rubber – wheel spin is to be expected, as is the fierce acceleration that follows.With this in mind, it is important that you have a long, straight and clear stretch of road in front of you; cuz you’ll be covering a lot of ground in a hurry!”
REGULATORY NEWS:
Lead wheel weights banned-As of January 1, 2010, it is illegal to sell or install a wheel weight that contains lead or mercury in California.A number of other states also have such a law on the books and others are considering it.
Automakers have already agreed to stop using lead weights as original equipment and the three major manufacturers of wheel weights in the U.S. stopped distributing lead weights in 2009.The U.S. EPA launched a voluntary nationwide initiative in 2008 and began a rulemaking process in 2009, which may eventually translate into a mandatory federal ban.Lead weights have been banned in the European Union since 2005.Automakers, tire makers and the aftermarket are turning to three main substitute materials—steel, zinc and composites.
WHY?If lead weights fall off wheels, there is a concern that they then become environmental hazards or contaminants in the metal recycling process.In the environment, the weights may be ground into dust particles and turn into lead oxides, hydroxides or bicarbonates.Lead particles and chemical combinations also pose the risk of contaminating surface and ground water supplies.
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In Utah, bill S.B. 106 to ban the use of most aftermarket exhaust systems will not be taken up by the Utah Senate prior to the adjournment of the legislature, and the bill is dead for the year.Under the bill, all vehicles would have been required to be equipped with an exhaust system that is “installed by the original manufacturer of the vehicle and is not modified, or meets specifications equivalent to the muffler installed by the original manufacturer of the vehicle and is not modified”.Among other things, S.B. 106 ignored the fact that aftermarket exhaust systems are designed to make vehicles run more efficiently without increasing emissions and did not supply law enforcement with a clear standard to enforce.
This great country is based on people fighting for their rights and those of others to live how they see fit.There are certain laws that need to be followed, especially those that involve violence against others.But as far as we’re concerned, the type of exhaust pipe we run on our hot rod doesn’t apply, and shouldn’t be a concern of the government.SEMA is fighting for all of us on a wide variety of levels.So the next time you think SEMA is only good for putting on a big show in Vegas once a year, please think again.
MEMBERS’ QUESTIONS AND TALES:
1 to 4 Skip Shift- I know we’ve talked about the first to fourth skip shift feature that was introduced on the C5 six-speed manual cars.And of course, many of us have disabled that annoying feature.Many people ask about this function and how it works.
The feature was provided to increase the Corvette’s fuel economy rating.The actual, real-world savings are minimal, but it helped to avoid the dreaded gas-guzzler tax.The system is designed so that the 1 – 4 Skip Shift light comes on and the gearbox shifts from first to fourth when all of the following conditions are met simultaneously: the gearbox is in first gear, the engine coolant temperature is above 169°, the car is traveling between 15 and 19 mph and the throttle is being applied at 21 percent of total travel or less.So if any of these conditions is not being met, the light will not come on and the shifter will allow the selection of second gear.
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Strange results of a dead battery or a battery replacement-This is another topic I know we’ve talked about here during Car Talk.Here’s one possible result of a battery problem on a C6.
I understand that when you unlock the doors on a C6, the windows automatically drop down about half an inch to allow the doors to open easily.
When a battery is disconnected or goes dead, it is not uncommon for the windows to need reindexing.Here’s the simple procedure.
-Sit inside the vehicle and close the door.
-Turn the ignition switch to the “run” position and raise the window all the way up.
-Hold the switch in the up position for approximately 5 seconds after the window has completely closed.
-Release the switch.Then hold the switch in the up position for 5 more seconds.
The window should now be auto indexed.To verify, remove the key and confirm that the window is performing correctly.You may need to perform this procedure more than once to achieve the proper position.
OTHER QUESTIONS AND TALES I’VE HEARD:
The owner of a 2003 50th Anniversary Edition Corvette recently asked:My car has 35,000 miles on it and it’s running fine, but it still has the original spark plugs; should I replace them?
Answer:Because top-quality platinum plugs were installed at the factory, they are good for at least 100,000 miles.Unlike motor oil, duration is not an issue with these spark plugs; they do not deteriorate over time.
OTHER INTERESTING STUFF:
“My Classic Car” host Dennis Gage will appear as a special celebrity guest at the second annual SEMA Show ‘N Shine car show on Saturday, July 24, at the PasadenaConvention Center, where he will be signing autographs and talking with attendees.
Held in connection with the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser and the Pinewood Drag Races, the Show ‘N Shine car show will be hosted by grand marshal Chip Foose, award-winning automotive designer and fabricator.The show is expected to draw some of the best local enthusiast cars, trucks and classics, with all proceeds benefiting children’s charities Childhelp and the Victory Junction Gang Camp.
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2ndAnnualSurfCity Garage Car Show, Sunday Aug. 22
Open to all year Corvettes, American muscle cars, trucks, sports cars, hot rods, customs and classics through 1974.Proceeds go towards supporting Corvette Super Sports club charities.
